This document discusses intonation in English phonetics. It defines intonation as the pitch patterns of spoken English which involve modifications of voice pitch to stress words. Intonation cues listeners to the type of utterance, such as a statement or question, and can indicate mood. It is different from but related to stress. The document covers pitch, tones, the structure of tone units including the nucleus and tail, and the functions of tones and intonation in English.
2. Intonation
Intonation
Pitch
Tone
Functions of the tone
The tone unit
Structure of the tone unit
Falling and rising
Functions of Intonation
3. Intonation
No language is spoken on a monotone
Languages have variations of pitch
English intonation: pitch patterns of spoken
English; the speech tunes or melodies; the
musical features of English
Intonation is significant
Intonation is systematic
Intonation is characteristic
Because word/sentence stress involves changes
in voice pitch, speakers continually modify the
fundamental frequency of their voice while
speaking in order to stress particular words in an
utterance.
4. The modification of voice pitch is known
as intonation
A speaker’s intonation pattern cues a
listener as to the type of utterance being
spoken, i.e., a statement of fact, a
question, an exclamation, etc.
Intonation is also responsible, in part, for
indicating a speaker’s particular mood.
Intonation is different from stress,
however there are relations between them.
Range of intonation varies.
5. Pitch
Auditory sensation experienced by the
hearer
An individual speaker does have control
over his/her pitch and may choose to
speak with a higher pitch than normal
Pitch: High or Low
6. Tone
Behaviour of the pitch
One-syllable words can be said with level
tone or moving tone, however, English
speakers do not use level tones. It sounds
unnatural.
Tone Languages imply meaning:
Mandarin Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese
The tones are falling, rising, fall-rise,
rise-fall
Representation of tones.
7. Structure of the tone unit
Nucleus (Tonic syllable)
Tail
Head
Pre-head
8. Functions of the English tone
Fall ˎyes ˎno
Rise ̗yes ̗no
Rise-fall yes ̭no
̭
Level _yes _no
9. Falling and Rising
Falling intonation or tune
Statements
Questions containing a special
interrogative word
Commands
10. Rising Intonation
Questions requiring the answer “yes” or
“no”
First part of sentences
Statements with an implication
11. Functions of Intonation
Attitudinal function
Accentual function
Grammatical function
Discourse function
12. Bibliography
• Allen, W Stannard. Living English Speech, 1954
• Celce Murcia, et al. Teaching Pronunciation, 1996
• Finch and Ortiz. A course in English Phonetics for Spanish
Speakers, 1982
• Jones, Daniel. An Outline of English Phonetics, 1967
• Roach, Peter. English Phonetics and Phonology, 2000
• Wells, J C. English Intonation. 2007